The main task of the Phantom Flex4K-GS camera, developed by Vision Research, is to shoot fast processes in a sufficiently high resolution of the output image at exposure speeds up to 1000 fps for the needs of film and television production. Therefore, it, performing shooting at the above speeds, is able to meet the increased requirements for the parameters of the output image (4K, 12 bit, Cine Raw). The technical parameters of the camera, as well as a full-fledged, well-thought-out user interface for it, distinguish this camera from similar high-speed cameras used for the needs of film and television. Among other things, manufacturers have brought some more versatility to the Phantom Flex4K-GS in the form of additional functionality embedded in it, which allows you to consider this camera not only in the context of shooting high-speed processes, but also in the context of conventional shooting at standard recording speeds.
The ability to shoot at high speeds in this camera, however, like most of this type of cameras, is achieved by using the technology of high-speed recording of a video stream into the internal volatile RAM buffer (in this particular version of the camera, it has a capacity of 128GB). The Phantom Flex4K-GS supports several possible ways to work with useful video footage during the filming process. In the process of shooting, you can easily transfer useful video material from the memory buffer to the on-camera non-volatile removable media of the Phantom CineMag IV. In this case, useful video material can only be obtained in one of two possible video formats recorded on the media (Cine Raw or Apple ProRes 422 HQ). You can control the shooting process on the camera directly from the camera or by means of a PC with the PCC (Phantom Camera Control) program installed on it, specially developed by Vision Research to control their cameras. As soon as the Phantom CineMag IV media is full, it must be freed of video data to continue filming, transferring useful video material to a suitable third-party media carrier. An alternative method of working with video data on this camera can be to upload video material from its RAM buffer memory via a PC to an external storage device, using the same Gigabit Ethernet interface that is used to control the camera using a PC. At the same time, the options for choosing a video format offered for uploading video material will be provided in larger quantities. However, unloading video material from the camera's memory buffer in this way can increase the time of the shooting process as a whole, since the camera and the control PC are completely occupied with the unloading process and cannot be involved in shooting at this time.
The Apple ProRes 422 HQ recording format, proposed by Vision Research for recording on Phantom CineMag IV removable media, can be considered as an option for using the camera in normal shooting mode. It allows direct recording of the video stream to external Phantom CineMag IV media, using the memory buffer rather as an intermediate memory, or not using it at all. At the same time, the camera's operation is limited in terms of recording speed at levels up to a maximum of 120 fps. In addition, Apple's ProRes 422 HQ format has loss compression, as opposed to Cine Raw, which is more suitable for post-processing because it is lossless compressed. Nevertheless, the very presence of the ability to work in two modes in the Phantom Flex4K-GS can definitely be attributed to the advantages, not the disadvantages of the camera. In addition, in terms of camera operation in normal shooting mode, it provides the ability to record sound and time code signals.
The camera is capable of recording two audio tracks only when shooting at standard recording speeds of 23.98 / 24/25 / 29.97 / 50 / 59.94 fps. The sound must be digitized according to the AES / EBU standard before being fed to the camera. Audio files are uploaded from the camera separately from video files using PCC software as 48 kHz and 24-bit uncompressed .wav files, which can then be compared to video in post-processing. There is also a sync input for easy 3D shooting and the ability to synchronize playbacks in multi-camera mode.
One of the advantages, which are also clearly seen, is the suitability of the camera for working in manual shooting mode, which is important, since the demand for this type of shooting is quite high. This adaptability is mainly due to the well-thought-out functionality for controlling the camera. The Phantom Flex4K-GS is equipped with very user-friendly control and configuration functionality. It is located on the right side where the assistant operator is usually located. In addition, the operator can also control some of the shooting functions from the left side of the camera. The right-hand functionality is similar, in terms of its user characteristics, to the functionality of some ARRI camera models (Alexa classic, Alexa SXT W, Alexa LF, etc.), which have proven themselves excellently, in particular, due to this arrangement and type of control. The location and operation algorithm of the control unit allows the DOP's assistant, without excessive efforts, to provide the shooting workflow in the offline mode of camera maintenance, i. e. you can completely control the camera separately from the PC, including providing a high-speed mode of its operation. This capability distinguishes this camera from its predecessors, which have very limited on-camera control capabilities. Meanwhile, you can always choose to control the camera on a PC with special PCC (Phantom Camera Control) software installed for this, and, in this case, the set of control tools for the shooting process will significantly expand.
The manufacturer, along with the Phantom Flex4K-GS, offers for sale a little cheaper version of this camera under the Phantom Flex4K brand, without the additional abbreviation GS. The Phantom Flex4K camera model is equipped with a cheaper image sensor, so it has some limitations associated with its reduced cost. Namely, the Phantom Flex4K matrix works exclusively in the "Rolling Shutter" mode, and on the contrary, the Phantom Flex4K-GS matrix is capable of operating in two modes to choose from "Global Shutter" or "Rolling Shutter". In the “Global Shutter” mode, the dynamic range of the camera is reduced by about a quarter and the signal-to-noise ratio deteriorates, however, quite often when shooting dynamic objects at high recording speeds, the “Global Shutter” mode becomes irreplaceable. Only switching the camera to work in this mode allows you to get rid of image distortions, called "Rolling Shutter" artifacts, if they appear during the shooting process.
A full-fledged Super-35 mm sensor allows you to shoot at 4K image resolution up to 1000 fps, and a 128 GB buffer of dynamic memory (RAM) holds about 10 seconds of filmed at maximum parameters, useful video material. Transferring video footage from RAM to external CineMag IV media, in order to free up the RAM buffer and continue shooting, takes a few minutes.
The set of the camera includes a download station for the CineMag based on Phantom CineStation IV that connects to an Apple MacBook Pro using a 10 Gigabit Ethernet interface and transfers video data at high speed. For example, a full 1TB CineMag IV is unloaded in about 1 hour to an external SSD storage drive. It should be noted that the download speed of video material from CineMag IV directly depends on the speed characteristics of the external recording medium provided by the equipment customer. Using HDD instead of SSD media can significantly slow down the downloading process and lead to time delays in the filming process.
The camera has a sufficient set of tools for controlling exposure and other quality image parameters on its board, which almost completely duplicates the toolkit proposed by the manufacturer for controlling the camera using a PC and the PCC (Phantom Camera Control) program. A cool feature for this type of camera is the presence of automatic motorized shutters in the Phantom Flex4K-GS, which, on command, block the matrix from light and allow black balance to be produced. At the same time, additional closure of the cinematic lens with the top cap is not required, as was previously required when shooting with cameras of the previous generation. This new feature of the camera greatly speeds up the shooting process, practically does not distract the camera crew from the current work, given the fact that high-speed cameras, as a rule, require black balance much more often than conventional cameras.
The Phantom Flex4K-GS has two selectable video output configuration modes "Production" and "Broadcast", which each configure different camera video outputs to a specific format for outputting image signals. These configuration modes allow you to adapt to different types of filming, distributing separately to specific camera outputs continuous live video and video that alternates between viewing the recorded material and live video. These configurations are also applicable for the operation modes of some camera outputs with UHD or 4K resolutions in the Dual-link 3G SDI image signal format according to the SMPTE ST 425-3 standard. The brightness characteristics of the video outputs can be changed by applying either the Rec709 brightness curve or the Phantom Log of your choice to them.
It is understood that the management of this kind of equipment requires highly qualified technical personnel, which we are happy to provide you with. You can also pick up a rented set of this camera, all the necessary additional equipment for a successful filming process.
